Head of IT and Systems

Cambridge Design Partnership is looking for a Head of IT and Systems to help take our technology capability to the next level.

CDP is a 150-person, employee-owned product and innovation consultancy operating across the UK and US. Our scientists, engineers, designers and commercial teams work together to solve complex problems for leading healthcare, life sciences and consumer businesses.

Technology already plays an important role in how we work. As CDP grows, we want to make even better use of it.

This role brings together IT operations, enterprise systems, data, cyber security, automation, AI and digital transformation under one senior leader. You will help shape the future technology landscape, improve how our systems connect, strengthen the way we use data and create a simpler, more effective digital experience for colleagues across the business to help enable our new growth strategy.

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with the Leadership Team, you will lead a small internal team supported by specialist partners.

There is real scope to shape the agenda. You will help us decide where technology can make the biggest difference, build a practical roadmap and turn that into visible improvements across the business. That includes making better use of our existing platforms, developing our systems and data capability, identifying valuable automation and AI opportunities, and ensuring our core IT services remain secure, reliable and easy to use.

We are looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. Someone who can see the whole technology landscape, make good decisions about priorities and investment, and work with colleagues across the business to make change stick.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

Technology Strategy and Transformation

• Develop and deliver a practical technology, systems, data and digital roadmap aligned with CDP's growth strategy
• Identify where technology can have the greatest impact on productivity, client delivery, decision-making and employee experience
• Set clear priorities for technology investment and digital change
• Define pragmatic architecture, integration and technology standards
• Lead the evolution of CDP's technology landscape as the business grows
• Ensure major initiatives have clear ownership, strong business cases and measurable outcomes
  
  

Enterprise Systems and Business Processes

• Take overall responsibility for CDP's enterprise systems landscape, including CRM, project and resource management, finance, HR, collaboration, document management and workflow
• Lead the continued development or replacement of platforms including HubSpot, SAP Business ByDesign, Microsoft 365/SharePoint, Egnyte and internally developed systems
• Work with leaders across CDP to improve end-to-end business processes
• Strengthen the flow of information from sales and opportunities through project delivery, resourcing, time recording, invoicing and management reporting
• Establish clear ownership, roadmaps and support models for core systems
• Develop a strong business-systems capability that can support CDP's future growth
  
  

Data, Automation and AI

• Improve the quality, accessibility and use of core business data
• Work with Finance and other functions to develop better management information and insight
• Identify and deliver automation opportunities that improve productivity and quality
• Lead CDP's approach to responsible and effective use of AI
• Help turn promising AI and automation ideas into useful everyday tools and workflows
• Measure adoption and business benefit
  
  

IT Operations And Employee Experience

• Lead reliable and responsive IT services across CDP's UK and US operations
• Oversee workplace technology, Microsoft 365, networks, endpoints, identity, access, cloud and infrastructure
• Continue improving onboarding, support and the everyday technology experience for colleagues
• Use service information and feedback to identify further opportunities for improvement
• Maintain effective asset, licence, change, incident and problem management
• Support the specialist technology needs of our scientists, designers and engineers
  
  

Cyber Security and Resilience

• Own CDP's information security and technology risk framework
• Lead cyber security priorities across identity, endpoints, cloud, networks, data and third-party systems
• Maintain controls aligned with ISO 27001 and CDP's wider quality environment
• Work closely with Legal, Quality and client-facing teams on information security, privacy, intellectual property and client requirements
• Maintain effective incident response, business continuity, backup and disaster recovery arrangements
• Keep security proportionate, practical and embedded in the way we work
  
  

Leadership, Suppliers and Commercial Management

• Lead and develop a small IT and systems team
• Build a joined-up capability across IT operations, systems, data and digital change
• Develop capability and resilience within the team
• Manage technology suppliers, software contracts, licences and partners
• Ensure we get strong commercial value from technology investment
• Manage technology budgets and resources
• Communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders across the business
  
  

Requirements

Skills and Attributes

• We are looking for someone with strong business judgement and a broad understanding of technology
• You will be comfortable moving between strategy, architecture, operations, suppliers, people and delivery. You will be able to turn a broad agenda into a clear set of priorities and bring others with you as those priorities move into delivery
  
  

You will also bring:

• strong commercial and business judgement
• the ability to simplify complexity and set clear priorities
• credibility with senior leaders and colleagues across the business
• a pragmatic approach to systems and architecture
• strong change leadership and stakeholder management
• sound judgement around cyber security and technology risk
• practical understanding of data, automation and AI
• a focus on adoption, outcomes and business value
• the ability to lead and develop a small, capable team
  
  

Education And Experience

You are likely to have:

• led both IT operations and enterprise business systems in a knowledge-intensive organisation
• experience in professional services, consulting, engineering, product development or another project-based environment
• led significant systems improvement or digital transformation
• worked across several of CRM, ERP/finance, PSA/project management, HR systems, Microsoft 365, data/BI, workflow and integration
• held senior accountability for cyber security, technology risk and business continuity
• led and developed an internal technology team alongside external partners
• managed software suppliers, contracts, licences and technology budgets
• led organisational change through process redesign, implementation, communication, training and adoption
  
  

Experience of SAP Business ByDesign, HubSpot, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Azure/Entra or PSA platforms would be useful, although delivery record and judgement matter more than direct experience of our current tech stack.

Experience supporting UK and US operations, ISO 27001 or regulated product-development environments would also be valuable.

Benefits

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an product development innovation partner, helping global brands and ambitious start-ups bring new products and services to market.

Our multidisciplinary teams combine science, design and engineering to solve complex problems across healthcare, life sciences and consumer markets.

We are 100% employee-owned, giving our people a direct stake in the long-term success of the business.

For the right person, this role offers the chance to shape an important part of CDP's next stage of development. You will have the scope to influence our technology strategy, build stronger digital and systems capability, and help make CDP an even better place to work and deliver for clients.

As part of our benefits package, we offer:

• flexible working, with a minimum of three days per week on site in Cambridge
• a discretionary bonus
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• a 12% non-contributory pension
• private healthcare
• electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
• share incentive plan
• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
  
  

Some travel to our Raleigh, North Carolina office may be required.